John bogowski



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN ROGOWSKI, OF NEW YORK, N.

NIGHT READING-DESK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,148, dated April 23, 1861.

To all w7wm it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, JOHN Roeowsiir, of the city, county, and State of New York,

have invented a new, and Improved Night i Reading-Desk; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear. and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying' drawing, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l, represents a side elevation ofmy invention. Fig. 2, is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3, is al trasverse vertical section of the same.

Similar letters of reference in the three views indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to provide a` reading desk combined with a clamp to hold a gas burner or candle and attached to arms which are adjustable in a vertical and lateral direction, said desk being furnished with adjustableM-stops to prevent the book, from sliding down over the sides of the desk and with a sliding clasp overlapping the upper edge of the book and intended to hold the pages down, the whole being attached to a suitable stand in such a manner that the desk can be readily and conveniently adjusted for a person wishing to read while lying in bed or on a couch.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and ope-ration with reference to the drawing.

The desk A, is secured by means of a pivot a, to an arm b, that extends in a downwardly inclined direction from the rod B. The pivot a, andthe arm Z), are soarranged that the desk can be slightly inclined toward either side, pins c, being provided `for retain ing it in the desired position.

The desk is furnished with zig-zag slots d, which form the guide for the stops c, and for the clasp 7. The stops e, are intended to retain the book and prevent it sliding off sidewise over the sides of the desk. The clasp f, is provided with a lip f', that catches over the upper edge of the book and it serves to hold the paper down.

An arm g, which extends in a horizontal `which screws into the stand F, so that by turning 1t 1n one direction or 1n the other the desk is raised or lowered. A hand wheel fr', serves for turning said rod. The top of the stand F, forms a table z', which may be used t-o place books or other articles on, and which may be provided with drawers when desired.

In order to counterbalance the overweight created by the desk and the book upon it on one side of the stand, the sleeve D, extends beyond the vertical rod E, and a balance weight G, is suspended from that end of the qleevewopposite the desk, or a small platform H, may be attached to that end to receive one or two books which in'this case take the place of the counterpoise.

The stand F, may either be made high. enough to stand on the floor or it may be made of such a height, that the same, when it is to be used. must be placed on a table or chair.

In every case my device will be found to be a very convenient contrivance for persons desiring to read while lying on a couch or bed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

The arrangement and combination of a reading desk A, with stops e, e, and clasp f, clamp C, horizontally adjustable rod B, rotary sleeve D, and vertically adjustable rod E, all constructed and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose shown and described.

JOI-IN ROGOW'SKI.

Witnesses:

G. W. REED, LEWIS A. TUCKER. 

